Bradley, for example, points out that Rockefeller zeroed in on refining as the most profitable phase of the business, rather than the more unstable exploration and production. He goes on to discuss the efficiencies that Rockefeller brought to the market and the overall positive impact that Standard Oil had on the fledgling industry.

In the second part of his post, Bradley notes that the initial objections to Standard Oil’s practices arose not from consumers, but from other interests within the oil industry that were hurt by Rockefeller’s power. Bradley also discounts the charges that Standard engaged in predatory pricing.

After I read the posts, I found myself wondering who would be considered the great oil visionaries of the post-Rockefeller era? In the past 50 years, which individual or individuals do you think had the most impact on the energy industry and why? Or to put a more modernist take on it, who is the Steve Jobs or Bill Gates of energy?